--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If they’re smart enough to be useful they…" description: "\"“If they’re smart enough to be useful they get ideas about making themselves indispensable—ideas about getting above their station, as you Brits would ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/charles-stross-896_corporations_if-they-re-smart-enough-to-be-useful-the_767064.png" --- # If they’re smart enough to be useful they get ideas about… ![“If they’re smart enough to be useful they get ideas about making themselves indispensable—ideas about getting above their station, as you Brits would put it. If they’re too dumb to be useful they’re a drain on your management time. All corporations are an economy of attention, from the top down.” quote by Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/charles-stross-896_corporations_if-they-re-smart-enough-to-be-useful-the_767064.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/charles-stross-896_corporations_if-they-re-smart-enough-to-be-useful-the_767064.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/charles-stross-896_corporations_if-they-re-smart-enough-to-be-useful-the_767064.png) > ““If they’re smart enough to be useful they get ideas about making themselves indispensable—ideas about getting above their station, as you Brits would put it. If they’re too dumb to be useful they’re a drain on your management time. All corporations are an economy of attention, from the top down.”” [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who are valuable become indispensable, while those who aren’t become burdens, making attention a scarce corporate resource. **In simple terms:** Valuable people become essential; others waste time. Key Takeaway Focus on creating unique value. Themes value attention corporate dynamics hierarchy productivity Mood critical analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - leadership meetings - performance reviews - team building - resource allocation Key Concepts human capital scarcity organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure merit is recognized? - What systems can protect against attention bias? 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